Arthur, Cecil 1897-1986

ARTHUR, HEITSMAN, GERARD, STEMSRUD, LASH, MCDOWELL, LOWRY, TICE, HAY, REEVES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/8/2010 at 14:53:55

RITES HELD FOR CECIL ARTHUR

Cecil Arthur, 89, of Searsboro died Saturday, July 12, at Grinnell General Hospital.

Masonic rites were conducted at 7 p.m. Monday at the Smith Funeral Home, with Harold Paschal of Newton, grand master of Iowa Masons, and Howard Macy of Lebanon Lodge No. 227 of Lynnville officiating.

Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, with the Rev. Philip J. Ramstad of the United Church of Christ-Congregational officiating. Howard Macy presented Masonic commentary. Organist was Kathleen Heffner, and pallbearers were William Arthur, Richard Davis, Teunis DeRuiter, Addison Jones, Jay Martin and Melvin Mills. Burial was in Jackson Township Cemetery at Montezuma.

Memorials may be made to the Lebanon Masonic Lodge at Lynnville.

The son of Perry and Nell Heitsman Arthur, he was born on Jan. 27, 1897, at Granville. On Oct. 3, 1920, he was married to Pansy Gerard at Grinnell. The couple farmed near Searsboro, later retiring to Montezuma. Mr. Arthur had lived at the Searsboro Manor for the past few years.

He was a 32nd degree mason and was a member of the Lynnville lodge for 37 years. He was also a member of the Grinnell Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his children, Margaret Stemsrud of Montezuma, Betty Lash of Chevy Chase, Md., Kenneth and Ward Arthur, both of Lebanon, Mo., Eva McDowell of Searsboro, Doris Lowry of Grinnell, Shirley Tice of Kellerton and Ailene Isabell of Mesa, Ariz.; 38 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and his sister Vera Hay of Grinnell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sons, Robert and Keith; three grandchildren; one brother, Cyril Arthur; and one sister, Eva Reeves.